By Donnie A. Lucas

Both the sixth and seventh grade bands earned three Division I ratings from the judges for concert selections played at the Clyde Band Festival last week.

“Both bands got straight Division I ratings across the board,” director William Vaughan said. “They played well and were very professional during the entire trip.”

The two bands each received Division I ratings from the three judges, the highest that can be awarded.

The groups were not competing against other bands in their divisions but were judged against a preset standard.

By Sam Waller

Members of the Albany High School Class of 2023 face a full schedule over the next three weeks with activities planned during the runup to graduation.

Albany will hold commencement ceremonies Friday, May, 26.

Photographs have already been turned in for the senior slide show, and one baby picture per senior should also be delivered to The Albany News for the annual graduation section.

•Pictures and bio information from each of the seniors needs to be turned in to The Albany News by Friday, May 4.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store will once again sponsor a Powder Puff game at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The event was revived last year after being dormant for several years. It was formerly sponsored by the Albany High School Student Council.

Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said the format this year will match the Pink team of senior and freshman girls against the Purple team composed of juniors and sophomores. The Pink team will be coached by senior boys with the Purple team coached by junior boys.

By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church of Albany is gearing up for a string of summer children’s programs that will extend into August.

Preteen Ministry

A Preteen Ministry started Wednesday, May 3 for students who are finishing sixth grade.

The program will be held 5:30-7:15 p.m. each Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall.

Children’s Choir

A community children’s choir will begin meeting 5:00-6:15 p.m. Wednesdays starting June 7 in the FBC Children’s Big Room.

By Sam Waller

Observance of the National Day of Prayer will be held at noon Thursday, May 4 (today) at the Bank Park.

The event is conducted by members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance.

The theme for this year’s event, chosen by the NDP task force, is “Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much,” based on James 5:16.

Brad McBee of First Christian Church said the local program will be much the same as past years.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Just under 70 adults and children were screened at last Saturday’s free vision clinic sponsored by the Albany Lions Club at the Friendship Baptist Church activity center.

“We saw 69 people during the four hours the event was open,” said club secretary Bob Skelton. “Every person having problems with their vision and not having the monetary ability to follow up on the problem, left the Sight For All event with a written plan in hand to work toward correcting their vision.”

By Sam Waller

Albany won the boys team title, and local athletes claimed five spots at the state track meet with event wins at the Region II-2A meet.

The Class 2A state meet will be held Friday, May 12, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

At the regional meet, held Friday-Saturday, April 28-29 at Springtown, Adam Hill and Kiana Roberson won two events each, and the Lions clinched the team title by winning the 1600 relay to finish with 70 points. The Lady Lions were 12th in the girls team standings with 20 points.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions put the finishing touches on the District 8-2A baseball championship April 25 with a 10-0 victory against Cisco on senior night.

The Lions (17-2 overall, 9-1 district) open the playoffs with a bi-district series against the Miles Bulldogs, who finished in a three-way tie for second place in District 7-2A and then lost to Coleman on Tuesday night.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s junior high tennis program wraps up its season this week with the district tournament at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

Boys will play Thursday, May 4 (today), with girls playing Friday, May 5.

Coach M.J. Reneau said Albany’s 19 players will mostly play doubles.

“We’ll have a few boys singles, but it’s mostly doubles,” she said.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions saw their softball season come to a disappointing end with a pair of lopsided losses to Hawley in a Class 2A bi-district season.

The Lady Lions finished the year with a 15-15-1 record. Battling low numbers from the start, Albany dropped its last five games.

“I guess our kids learned a couple of lessons about life,” Lady Lions coach Jimmy Fuentes said, “lessons about accountability and being able to overcome adversity, the lesson of no matter what the situation is, we’re not  going to quit.”